Answer these questions.

1 • Why did the little old woman stay in a shoe house?

A fierce giant destroyed the old woman’s house with a club and abducted her husband. He took her husband to a huge castle beyond the forest. The old woman waited a long time for her husband’s return, and when he did not, she went out in search of him with her family. On her way she found a huge shoe in the woods where the giant had met her husband and decided to take shelter in it until they could build a new house.

2. What happened to her husband?

The old woman’s husband was a poor woodcutter. A giant had abducted him and kept him as a prisoner in the castle.

3. How did Strong-arm defeat the dragon?

Strong-arm was determined to free his father from the giant’s castle. He bought a dozen sharp swords and, along with his brothers, went to rescue their father. He met a peculiar boy who answered the door to the giant’s castle. He informed Strong-arm that a large dragon was guarding his father inside the castle. Strong-arm found the monster, who was fast asleep, and plunged a sword right through his heart, effectively killing him.

4• Who helped the mother when the boys were away? What did the person do?

A witch helped the old woman. The witch despised the giant very much and desired to kill him. She took the little old woman on her broom and sailed off towards the giant’s castle. The witch cursed the giant with corns and tender feet.

C. Read these extracts and answer the questions that follow.

• 1. “Now this little old woman had not always lived in a shoe.

a) Where did the woman live before?

The old woman previously lived in a nice house covered with ivy.

b) Who else lived with her?

The old woman lived with all of her children in the huge shoe.

c) Why was she forced to live in the shoe?

Her beautiful house was destroyed by a fierce giant, which forced her to live in the shoe until a new house was built.

.2. Their mother knew the Giant’s strength and would not hear of the attempt, as she feared they would be killed.

a) Who wanted to attempt what?

Strong-arm, the old woman’s son, wanted to ambush the giant along with his brothers and rescue their father.

b) Who are “they” referred to in the above line?

They refer to her children.

c) What did her son do immediately after this?

Strong-arm bought a dozen sharp swords, and Peter made many strong shields, helmets, crossbows, and iron-headed arrows. They marched off together with their other brothers towards the giant’s castle.

3. Strong-arm had no sooner finished the dragon than up started the funny little boy who had opened the door.

a) Who is Strong-arm?

Strong Arm is the little old woman’s son.

b) Where is he at this time?

He was standing inside the giant’s castle.

c) What did he do to the dragon?

Strong-arm plunged a sword through the dragon’s heart.

d) Who was the funny little boy?

The funny little boy was a page serving in the giant’s castle.

e) Where did the boy take Strong-arm?

The little boy led Strong-arm round to another part of the courtyard of the castle where his father was kept imprisoned by the giant.